Pupils sent home from Eastbourne Academy for wearing incorrect uniform
AROUND 100 school pupils were sent home from the new Eastbourne Academy on the first day of term for wearing incorrect uniform.
Parents were phoned and youngsters were told to leave school because they were wearing short-sleeved rather than long-sleeved shirts or had black plimsolls instead of the 'plain black shoes' the school specifies. A teenage girl, sent home for wearing black trainers, was also told her bag was too small and she should return with a bigger bag suitable for carrying books and folders.
The new tighter uniform regulations follow the formation of The Eastbourne Academy, formerly known as Eastbourne Technology College, which celebrated its opening on Friday (September 3) and educates nearly 700 children at its site in Brodrick Road, Hampden Park.
Numerous 'livid' parents phoned the Gazette when their children returned home on Friday morning (September 3). Some of the pupils were at school for less than an hour before they were sent home and all were told they would not be allowed to return to school until they had the correct uniform.
John Davies, of Longstone Road, and his brother-in-law Danny Wright were among the parents affected by the move.
John's 12-year-old daughter Tia was sent home for wearing black plimsolls which she had been wearing throughout the last academic year.
John said, "Sending a child home on the first day of term is completely the wrong message to be sending out to the pupils.
"She wore these black plimsolls all last year and the school uniform guide says plain black shoes - plimsolls are plain black shoes.
"What they're wearing on their feet doesn't affect their ability to learn so I think this is absolutely ridiculous."
Steph Williams, a mum-of-seven from Midhurst Road, said her son Jay Black was sent home for wearing the same trainers he had worn to school in July. Steph says money is tight and she, like many other parents, says she cannot afford to buy new school shoes at the moment.
"I'm not impressed at all," said Steph. "He wasn't even at school for an hour and now he is back home playing on the PlayStation. It is ridiculous."
Mum-of-four Vickie Brook, whose 13-year-old daughter Sheree Mackin was also sent home due to issues with uniform, said, "They are going to have a very empty school and unfortunately the kids will start to play on it. They will get to know that they will get a day off school."
Julie Purnell, a mum-of three, said her 12-year-old son Luke, 15-year-old daughter Chyanne and 12 of their friends were stood on her doorstep on Southern Road after all being sent home from The Eastbourne Academy because of incorrect uniform.
She said, "All the kids looked so smart when they went off to school and then they were sent back home for petty reasons."
Many of the angry parents have said a letter would have been more appropriate and they have set up a Facebook group called 'Eastbourne Academy uniform chaos' which had nearly 80 members when the Gazette went to press.
Keith Pailthorpe, principal of The Eastbourne Academy, said, "The Eastbourne Academy is a uniform school and the details of the uniform were sent out on several occasions to parents in the newsletter of the predecessor school (ETC) and were on the ETC website for months before the opening.
"It was made absolutely clear to students throughout the last summer term in assemblies that uniform in the academy would be strictly maintained and that students who did not adhere to the rules would be sent home.
"The academy itself paid for the new ties, badges and some of the blazers for the older students who had not had blazers before.
"The vast majority of students came into the academy on Friday morning in the correct uniform and had an excellent day, working well and behaving impeccably.
"If students came in without correct uniform then the parents were called and the students were sent home to change.
"Many had the uniform at home and returned correctly dressed later in the day. Some children were kept at the academy in a separate room with work and supervision provided because their parents were unable to collect them or supervise them.
"The Eastbourne Academy is a new school and is aiming to provide the highest standards of work and behaviour for all its students. Most parents agreed with me that uniform is an important part of the ethos of a good school, although some did then ask that it should not apply to their own children in their particular circumstances, but that is not something that we are prepared to accept.
"The same rules must be applied to all and we will continue next week and as long as it takes to get the message across.
"Our parents respect this and are pleased that we are making a stand for the benefit of the majority of well-behaved, hard-working students."
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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